BRANDON, South Dakota (CNN) - Sen. Hillary Clinton said Friday that she regretted comments that evoked the June 1968 assassination of Robert Kennedy as part of her explanation for why she was staying in the presidential race late into the primary season.

Earlier Friday afternoon, she told the editorial board of the Sioux Falls Argus Leader that "My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. I don't understand it," she said.

Clinton complained that "people have been trying to push me out of this ever since Iowa" and said that position "historically ... makes no sense."

Later at an event in Brandon, South Dakota, she said, "earlier today, I was discussing the Democratic primary history and in the course of that discussion mentioned the campaigns that both my husband and Sen. Kennedy waged in California in June in 1992 and 1968, and I was referencing those to make the point that we have had nominating primary contests that go into June. That's an historic fact.

Update: During an interview with Radio Isla Puerto Rico on Saturday, Barack Obama reacted to the Clinton RFK comment.

According to a quote released by the campaign, he said, “I have learned that when you are campaigning for as many months as Senator Clinton and I have been campaigning, sometimes you get careless in terms of the statements that you make and I think that is what happened here. Senator Clinton says that she did not intend any offense by it and I will take her at her word on that.”

soundoff(937 Responses)

responding to debbie

WE DON'T NEED YOUR VOTE ANYWAYS! BUT GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!

as for Hillary's latest comments... pfffffffft!!! i don't ever want to think about voting for her, was never going to vote for her and will never vote for her . i am utterly and thoroughly disgusted with how low she's stooped just to get into the white house. there's not even a low that exists for her to match, so i think she has actually crated the new low. she's contradicted herself throughout this campaign and i know without a shadow of a doubt that thousands if not millions will pull their support from her after her recent comments. she's sided with racists and now her recent comments show that she's got a whisper campaign to carry out those tactics. not a day has gone by where i pray for safety. safety for this country, safety for the people in this country and safety especially for Obama and his family. the fact that hillary would put that out there for all the world to hear and see lets me know that it's what she wants. i wish her the best, but good Lord, move the **** on.

oh and debbie... two more things... Rev. Wright was quoting someone as saying what the media has twisted as his words. Get your facts straight hun. and last.... as for us Obama suporters, we're not crybabies.. our tears are tears of joy!!! we're celebrating the victory early! so you can take your little toosh elsewhere with the sore loser attitude!

OBAMA '08!

GOD BLESS DEBBIE AND HER FAMILY! HAHAHAH

May 23, 2008 06:11 pm at 6:11 pm |

Go Barak and Michelle Obama!

May 23rd, 2008 5:22 pm ET

She made a mistake with her words. They all have… Remember the bitter comments. Move on

Yeah a mistake would have been once.. with one brother.. not twice with both brothers..she'll reference MLK next..
plant the seed and see what grows huh?

May 23, 2008 06:11 pm at 6:11 pm |

Bit

oh, okay. This is the missing piece of the puzzle why she is still staying in the race. Think about it; she can't win even with the Mi and Fl delegates seated and she knows Obama will not give her the nod to be his VEEP.

I'll tell you this much, let something happen to Obama................

She meant to say that!

May 23, 2008 06:11 pm at 6:11 pm |

Randy - Denver

Why should the supporters of Mr. Obama leave this alone? For how long did we hear, not just Ms. Clinton's supporters, her campaign but Ms. Clinton herself ,distort and take out of context the bitter remark made by Mr. Obama? The fact is the Obama campaign has simply stated that death threats against an opponant really should have no place in a Presidential campaign. And that is what this basically was, a veiled death threat. After reading some of these blogs from Supporters of Ms. Clinton I can think of a few who would do "her the favor" so she will win the Democratic nomination.

Now the real test comes for Mr. Obama (who was giving a speech in Fl when this occured and therefore did NOT tell his campaign how to respond) will he use this in his stump speeches or will he let it go? Letting it go is the high road, and the one I think he will take (unless specifically asked about it) which is more than I could say for Ms. Clinton if the situation were reversed.

Obama/Sebelius '08!

May 23, 2008 06:11 pm at 6:11 pm |

Nunzio in TX

It is amazing to me that so many democrats believe that Obama is electable! There is no way that Obama will be elected in November! Obama's supporters are upset with Hillary and her conduct during the primary campaign. Let them see what's coming in November by the Republicans. This country is not ready for a black president and won't be for another 50 or 100 years. Obama's supporters including his delegates are delusional optimists about an Obama presidency. Those who suggest that Clinton's supporters will support Obama in the fall are also delusional. I don't know of any white men who will vote for and send Barack and Michelle Obama to the White House.

May 23, 2008 06:11 pm at 6:11 pm |

sam

This is sickening! She would rather destory the party to get her way, lies false rumors and planting the seeds that someone has taken something from her. You ran we did not vote for you and you lost. GET OVER IT! Supers stop playing...get her out NOW!

May 23, 2008 06:11 pm at 6:11 pm |

Pete in OR

Does this recent "misstatement" now make her more "electable"? One can only imagine what the RNC would do with this verbal fiasco.

May 23, 2008 06:15 pm at 6:15 pm |

sacto joe

That did it. She needs to drop out. Now.

May 23, 2008 06:15 pm at 6:15 pm |

Rick

Wow...just when we thought...we had seen the lowest from Hillary.

Hillary truely amazes me. She is a threat to society.

May 23, 2008 06:15 pm at 6:15 pm |

William, CA.

This country's politics, will always be defined. by the people we elect. And that is its history, sadly..........

May 23, 2008 06:15 pm at 6:15 pm |

oletu from denmark

hillary and mike hab are making up the plot to kill obama, that plan will fail.

May 23, 2008 06:15 pm at 6:15 pm |

mulla

Ken,
you sound racist! low-life people like you, make America looks bad!